Vital regional Australian infrastructure is being ignored by Labor in its quest to win city votes, Federal Nationals Member for Mallee Anne Webster says.

The Albanese Government announced it would scrap the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) Round 6 and Community Development Grants (CDG) in this week’s Federal Budget, with Shadow Minister

for Regional Development Catherine King describing them as politically targeted towards National Party Electorates.

“Labor’s criticisms are yet another example they do not understand the needs of Rural Australians – it is rural Shires who are largely applying for this funding.” Dr Webster said.

“Does Labor even know where Yarriambiack Shire is?

“I have personally spoken to these Rural Councils and agencies over the past week, all were looking forward to being able to deliver these projects to their local communities – now that is in serious jeopardy.”

Dr Webster said given the Liberal and National parties represent the majority of regional electorates, they are more likely to benefit from a regional grants program than the Labor Party, which

represents fewer regional electorates.

Mallee projects that were to be funded under the BBRF include:

• Sawyer Park (Horsham) pavilion upgrade ($6.4 million) – applied for by Horsham Rural City Council

• Reimagining Robinvale ($3.5 million) – applied for by Swan Hill Rural City Council

• Dunmunckle Childcare ($845,000) – applied for by Yarriambiack Shire Council

• Beaufort Lakeside Tourism Park Development ($1 million) – applied for by Pyrenees Shire Council

• Mildura Clay Target Club ($1,625,000) – applied for by Green Range Pty Ltd

• Nexus Accommodation Project ($5.1 million) – applied for by Birchip Cropping Group

Mallee projects that were committed to be funded under the CDG include:

• Dunmunckle Childcare (Murtoa) – $845,000

• Mildura Tracks and Trails – $13,500,000

• La Trobe University (and Cann Group) (Mildura) – $5,000,000

• Davis Park (Nhill) – $1,640,000

• La Trobe University Biomedical Wet Labs (Mildura) – $3,300,000

• Deledio Reserve (Dunnolly) – $3,600,000

• Karinie Street Reconstruction Project (Swan Hill) – $2,500,000

• Upgrades to Castle Crossing Road (Nangiloc) – $290,000

Dr Webster said Minister King’s comments regarding the BBRF showed the hypocrisy of her Government.

“Labor claims the BBRF funding favoured Coalition Electorates in one breath, but then throws $2.2 billion to Dan Andrews for the Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop before Infrastructure Australia has

approved the merits of the project,” Dr Webster said.

“The Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop has been estimated to cost more than $125 billion, but the project been strongly criticised by the Victorian Auditor-General who said only in September that an

economic rationale for the project had yet to be provided.”

An Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) report acknowledged “BBRF was well designed in a number of respects” and the last two rounds were structured to support communities through tough circumstances, including drought, bushfires, floods and the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on regional communities.

“It is now up to the Labor Party to demonstrate whether they have the same commitment to Regional Australia,” Dr Webster said.

“They could start by guaranteeing not to slash programmes that exist for those who live in the areas that generate Australia’s wealth but don’t necessarily benefit from government investment in urban

infrastructure.

“The Coalition Government has a proud record when it comes to infrastructure spending, particularly in the regions, with record investments across Australia supporting around 40,000 jobs.”

The Coalition Government also increased the Federal Infrastructure investment pipeline at the March 2022-23 Budget to $120 billion to create new jobs, keep people and freight moving, and

driving economic growth.

The Coalition’s last Budget also announced an additional $17.9 billion to road, rail and community infrastructure projects across Australia.

“Clearly Labor is going to stop funding desperately needed projects for regional communities,” Dr Webster said